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An elderly hermit was once invited to appear at the court of the most powerful king of that age.
"I envy a holy man who can be content with so little," said the king.
"I envy Your Majesty, who is content with even less than I," answered the hermit.
"What do you mean? This entire country belongs to me," said the king, offended.
"Exactly," said the old hermit. "I have the music of the spheres, I have the rivers and the mountains all over the world. I have the moon and the sun, because I have God in my soul. Your Majesty, though, has only this kingdom."

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The master says:
"Make use of every blessing that God gave you today. A blessing cannot be saved. There is no bank where we can deposit blessings received, to use them when we see fit. If you do not use them, they will be iffetrievably lost.
God knows that we are creative artists when it comes to our lives. On one day, he gives us clay for sculpting, on another, brushes and canvas, or a pen. But we can never use clay on our canvas, nor pens in sculpture.
Each day has its own miracle. Accept the blessings, work, and create your minor works of art today.
Tomorrow you will receive others.

-3-

The master says:
"My dear fellow, I have to tell you something that you perhaps don't know. I have been thinking about how to make this news less difficult to hear -- how to paint it in brighter colors, add to it promises of Paradise, visions of the Absolute, provide esoteric explanations -- but they do not apply.
Take a deep breath, and prepare yourself. I have to be blunt, and I assure you, I am absolutely certain of what I'm telling you. It is an infallible prediction, without any doubt whatsoever.
It's the following: you are going to die.
It may be tomorrow or fifty years from now, but -- sooner or later -- you are going to die. Even if you would rather not. Even if you have other plans.
Think carefully about what you are going to do today. And tomorrow. And with the rest of your life.